Join us for a Marist Pilgrimage on Saturday, May 4, as we journey through Marist sacred spaces and stories that have shaped the Marist mission in Australia. Starting at St Patrick’s Crypt in Sydney with a guided tour by Fr McMurrich, we’ll travel by bus to Hunters Hill to explore key sites of the Marist Fathers and Brothers, and the Marist Missionary Sisters at Woodbury house , then continue to Woolwich to hear the inspiring story of the Marist Sisters. It’s a day of reflection, connection, and deepening your understanding of Marist spirituality and heritage—all are welcome!

In John 8:1–11, the encounter between Jesus and the religious authorities who bring forward a woman caught in adultery reveals not only their deceit but also two deeper concerns: the misrepresentation of God’s Law and the confusion between custom and tradition. The scribes and Pharisees present themselves as guardians of the Law, yet their actions betray a lack of understanding of its deeper, liberating purpose rooted in God’s loving covenant, as expressed through the prophet Isaiah. Rather than embodying God's mercy and presence, they cling to rigid custom, mistaking it for living tradition. While tradition flows from a life-giving relationship with God, custom—though necessary—can become oppressive when detached from its original purpose. Jesus’ response exposes this distortion, shifting the focus from legalism to grace and personal transformation. His compassionate words to the woman—“Neither do I condemn you… do not sin again”—highlight a divine invitation to freedom, not condemnation, and call us to reflect on how we too interpret and live out God’s law.

Tanner Kalina begins his story by sharing how, although he grew up with faith in Texas, baseball always took priority over God. He pursued his dream of making it to the major leagues with single-minded dedication, and early success seemed to confirm his path—until he was bullied in college and developed 'The Yips,' a psychological condition that shattered his performance and left him deeply depressed. To cope, he turned to comedy, eventually developing a passion for performance that replaced his athletic dreams. His new obsession became joining the cast of Saturday Night Live, and he began working tirelessly in the entertainment world.

Akeelah and the Bee tells the inspiring story of Akeelah Anderson, an 11-year-old girl living in South Los Angeles. She's highly intelligent and has a special gift for spelling, but she's also facing many challenges: her father has passed away, her mother is overworked and skeptical of Akeelah's ambitions, and her school is under-resourced. Akeelah tries to hide her talent to avoid being teased, but her principal encourages her to enter a spelling bee, setting her on a path that will challenge and transform her.

The song 'Hold On to Me' by Lauren Daigle is a heartfelt prayer and plea for God’s presence during moments of weakness, doubt, and brokenness. It expresses the deep human longing to be seen, known, and embraced, especially when we feel unworthy, lost, or overwhelmed. Through vulnerable lyrics, the song reminds us that even when we struggle to hold on to faith, God never lets go of us—His love remains constant, steady, and holding us through every season of life.

Dr. Matthew begins with a personal and humorous reflection on the experience of speaking at a large event, comparing himself to Fr. Mike Schmitz and joking about fatherhood and body image. He transitions into the core of his talk, titled The Healing Heart of Christ, which focuses on how the Eucharist can be a source of healing for anxiety and depression. He shares a poignant story about a young boy in play therapy who, after a violent outburst, calms down only when held gently and safely—highlighting the deep human need for connection and regulation through relationship.